Analysis of the liquefaction potential of soils based on the standard penetration test (SPT) and shear wave velocity (VS), an example application

One of the significant engineering problems that occurs in soil under dynamic loads is liquefaction. Liquefaction is generally defined as the loss of strength and subsequent fluid-like behaviour of saturated, cohesionless soils under seismic loading. In this thesis study, calculations were performed to determine the liquefaction potential of a site in the city centre of Batman using soil liquefaction analysis methods based on the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) according to the Turkish Building Earthquake Regulation (2018) and the shear wave velocity (Vs) according to the Andrus and Stokoe (2000) method. Evaluations were made according to the specified liquefaction analysis method, and safety factors for liquefaction were calculated. In general, it has been determined that the safety factor values obtained from liquefaction analyses based on the Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and the Andrus and Stokoe (2000) method, which are based on shear wave velocity (Vs), yield similar results that support each other. At the study site, it was concluded that the liquefaction risk is high in this area due to the Safety Factor (FSL) values being less than 1.1.